The Need is Here. The Conversation Can’t Wait.

On October 30, Generation Power CT will bring together community members, advocates, leaders, partners, and supporters for our second annual Power and Purpose: A GPCT Energy Address.

This year, the conversation is more urgent than ever.

Connecticut has not yet reached the coldest months of the year, but families across our state are already facing heating emergencies. During GPCT’s September Emergency Energy Assistance application cycle, we received requests for aid from more than 2,200 households. Nearly 1,000 applications came from households seeking heating oil assistance—and more than 80% of those households reported being already out of fuel or nearly out of fuel.

Last year, approximately 45% of families reported being out of fuel or nearly out of fuel.

This is why conversations like Power and Purpose matter. These aren’t simply numbers. They’re the lives of real Connecticut residents.

GPCT strives to respond to the current energy crisis, while also asking what our communities can do together to build a stronger, more resilient energy future for Connecticut. Power and Purpose creates space for that conversation to happen.

This year, our theme is THRIVE—a word at the heart of GPCT’s mission: to lead the way so that every generation can thrive with secure access to heat, power, and water.

There is a difference between surviving and thriving.

Everyone deserves access to heat, power, and water. And no one should have to choose between paying a utility bill or paying for necessities like food, medication, or housing.

Thriving means having the stability and security to look beyond the next crisis. It means families can plan for their futures, communities can grow stronger, and every generation has the opportunity to build something better.

At this year’s Power and Purpose, we’ll explore what it takes to move Connecticut families from surviving to thriving. Hosted by Renee DiNino from WFSB Channel 3, the luncheon will feature East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin as our keynote speaker, along with performances by 860 NexGen, Tessie Ambler, and Shauntice Shepard.

Together, we’ll look at the challenges of energy insecurity in Connecticut today and the solutions shaping tomorrow.

A grant from GPCT can fill a tank, keep the lights on, or prevent a shutoff. That work is critical, and this winter, the need for it is already clear. But our vision goes further.

We want every generation to thrive.

Getting there will take all of us: listening to those most affected, understanding the challenges before us, investing in solutions, strengthening partnerships, and coming together around a shared vision for Connecticut’s energy future.

The need is already here. The time to build what’s next is now.

Join us for Power and Purpose on October 30, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, and be part of the conversation about how we move from surviving to thriving—together.

Petro Heat | M&T Bank | American Eagle | Windsor Federal Savings Bank | MDC | Comcast | Liberty Bank | Connecticut Green Bank | Brothers Oil | Robinson & Cole | Whittlesey | Dillon Mailing & Printing

Emergency Energy Assistance Opens Again December 1-15

GPCT’s next Emergency Energy Assistance application cycle will open December 1-15, 2026, providing eligible Connecticut households with assistance towards their heating and energy costs. Eligible households may receive assistance once per 12-month period.

With demand already high this year and funding limited, we strongly encourage households in need to apply as early as possible. If you are struggling to afford your heating or energy costs, visit gpct.org/gethelp for more information on how to apply.

If you are in a position to help, please consider making a donation to GPCT. Last year, GPCT was forced to turn away more than 800 households due to lack of funding. Every contribution helps us provide critical assistance to more Connecticut families facing an energy emergency this winter.

GPCT Calls for Action from State Legislators

As Connecticut families prepare for another challenging winter, GPCT is joining community partners and state and federal leaders in calling for urgent action to ensure households have access to the energy assistance they need.

On September 22, GPCT’s Chief Policy & Public Affairs Officer Gannon R. Long participated in a press conference hosted by US Representative Rosa DeLauro at the Community Action Agency of New Haven, one of GPCT’s longest-standing Application Support Center partners. It was a powerful opportunity to join CAANH President and CEO Amos Smith, Department of Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves, State Representative Toni Walker, and community members to highlight the growing need for energy assistance. We are calling for state leaders to convene a special session of the Connecticut General Assembly to provide additional emergency energy assistance funding for families this winter.

The urgency is already clear. Even before the coldest months arrive, GPCT is hearing from families who are out of heating oil, facing unaffordable energy costs, and struggling to keep up with basic household expenses. Without additional resources, organizations serving these households face difficult decisions about how far limited assistance dollars can stretch as winter demand grows.

GPCT amplified that call on October 6, when GPCT CEO Perkin Simpson joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal at a press conference at the State Capitol. Together, we reinforced a simple message: Connecticut families need help now.

Emergency energy assistance provides more than help with a utility bill or fuel delivery. Keeping heat and power on helps families remain safely in their homes, protects children and older adults, and provides stability during some of the most difficult months of the year.

At GPCT, we will continue working with our partners, community leaders, and policymakers to elevate the experiences of the households we serve and advocate for the resources Connecticut families need. No family should have to face a Connecticut winter without safe, reliable access to heat and power.

Advocating for Energy Affordability Across Connecticut

As a proud member of the Low-Income Energy and Water Advisory Board (LIEWAB), GPCT works to ensure the experiences of Connecticut families are represented in conversations about energy and water affordability. Through our participation in bi-monthly meetings and regular reporting, we bring data, client experiences, and insights from our work directly to policymakers and partners working toward solutions.

This month, we submitted our October LIEWAB Report, highlighting what we are seeing and hearing from the communities we serve and the challenges families are facing as we enter the winter heating season.

Sign Up for a Home Energy Solutions^SM Assessment Through GPCT

Are you looking to lower your energy bills and increase your comfort at home? Sign up for a home energy assessment through GPCT! We’ll connect you with qualified contractors who can walk you through Home Energy Solutions and Home Energy Solutions – Income Eligible programs, brought to you by the Sponsors of Energize Connecticut^SM. See more about our Community Partnership Initiative work in East Hartford.

Thanks to the Sponsors of Energize CT and our contractor partners, New England Smart Energy and CMC Energy Services for your support!

GPCT Partnered with CT State Housatonic to bring Good Energy to Bridgeport

In September, GPCT partnered with CT State Housatonic to bring Good Energy to a gathering of donors, community members, and friends. The evening created space to connect, share ideas, and strengthen the relationships that help power our work across Connecticut. Guests also had the opportunity to explore the Housatonic Museum of Art’s renowned collection, making for a unique backdrop to an evening centered on community and connection.

Our Good Energy events are all about bringing together people who believe in our mission and creating opportunities for meaningful conversation—with no formal program, just good people, great connections, and a shared commitment to helping Connecticut families thrive with secure access to heat, power, and water. We’re grateful to CT State Housatonic and everyone who joined us for another evening of Good Energy!